Boiler of tubular-section type



Nov. 30, 1948 A. J. GALLAHER 2,454,865

BOILER OF TUBULAR-SECTION TYPE Filed Nov. 9, 1946 44 FIG. I. STEAM gllllllldlipll;

14 Will -sill;

., r 7 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE BOILER OF TUBULAR-SECTION Andrew J. Gallaher, St. Louis, Mo.

Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 708,978

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in boilers of tubular-section types, and more particularly to a boiler construction in which the heat absorbing elements consist of sections of a unique construction, and which may be assembled in any reasonable selected number to construct boilers of different capacities.

A primary object of the present improvements is attained ina boiler of low-cost construction, adopted for high-pressure service, and in which the major elements of the assembly are comprised of similar sections, some of which may be, with advantages, of slightly differing types or forms. l

A further advantage and object of the present invention is realized in substantial savings in transportation and erection costs, particularly when the improvements are embodied in the form of a welded steel tubular construction of a plurality of the sections and fluid-containing elements.

A still further advantage and objective of the invention is reflected in a facility for building, on the situs of ultimate use, a boiler of any reasonable selected capacity, and which may be varied in capacity, due to its unique sectional construction, as may be required.

An additional and important object is attained in a boiler construction comprised of generally similar sections in selected numbers, the sections being of such construction as to render virtually all external surfaces of each section accessible for cleaning, as by brushes and similar equipment, and in the most advanced embodiment of the improvements, similarly to render virtually all internal surfaces of each section accessible at any time for brush cleaning, without dismantling the boiler or requiring removal of any of the sections.

Further and important objects of the present improvements are realized in an efficiency comparing more than favorably with any boiler for comparable service, now known to this applicant, or available in trade, and in which no force draft is necessary, and in which there is no reversal of the course of flue gases and gaseous combustion products. Yet other objective attainments include a boiler construction which may be utilized with any prevalent type of fuel; a boiler which re- I quires no bricking-in or other permanent masonry elements for enclosure, and one which may be embodied, in its essential principles, in either a .cast structure, or equally adapted to formation of lengths of boiler tubing welded into assembly, as is particularly desirable for boilers of at least reasonable capacity intended for high pressure service.

The foregoing and numerous other objects will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which? Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and shown partly in section so as to reveal interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the boiler, certain internal parts being shown in dotted lines;

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View showing certain features of the several sections and advantages resulting from their assembly, this view being taken along a horizontal plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the sections going to make up the major heat-absorbing elements of the boiler, with some of the connections to the section being shown in section, this view being taken along line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through an end portion of one of the tubular elements of Fig. 4, illustrating a preferred closure expedient utilized in the end zones of thesectional tubuar elements of awelded-tube type of section.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it will readily appear that the major heat absorbing elements of the boiler are comprised of a group of laterally adjacent, partly contiguous tubular sections, one of which is shown by Fig. 4 and generally indicated at H). These sections are preferably of two slightly differing forms or types, or if of a single type and identical in construction, are preferably so supported that a plurality of cross tubes ii, in adjacent sections, are disposed at vertically staggered distances above the grate level, this arrangement clearly appearing in the sectioned portion of the assembly at the left hand side of Fig.1. In case the sections be of two diifering types, the only diiference between these two em-v bodiments need consist in the slightly difiering lengths or heights of a pair of opposite vertical water legs If in the base portion of the section, these varying lengths serving to provide the differing heights of cross tubes, as noted. A further difference, if any, may consist in the use of one less ofthe cross tubes in each alternate section, than inthe "intervening sections, whereby to obtain the staggered heights of the cross tubes of adjacent sections. I

Each of the sections includes by preference, a base portion comprised of the two vertical legs 12 and the lowermost cross tube H, which three elements, being either parts of a cast section or fabricated by welded lengths of tubing, may be utilized as such, or if preferred, may be sur mounted by a ladder arrangement of additional cross tubes H spaced appreciably from each other and connected ,in their end regions, yet somewhat inwardly of their ends, by a series of superposed special nipple elements I 3. These are preferably of a lesser depth across the section than the vertical legs or cross ,tube s,.on e special and preferred form of the nipples I3 consisting,

as shown by Fig. 3, of an elongate oval cross section.

By this expedient there is provided ample brush access space between nipples 13 of adjacent sections, clear through from endtoend of the sections, and virtually over the entire exterior surface of the cross ,tubes vas well as the lateralsurfaces of -.the nipples. This facility will best appear from Fig. 3, and from the spacing between the ladder portions of the sections as shown by Fig. l. The locations of the --nipples inwardly of Lthe.extremeends of the cross tubes. offer ,an advantage in that the endclosur-es of the cros's tubes may be ,provided with removable closures, ..-for example with threaded cleanout plugs J4. These engage .tappedapertures therefor, one for each plug in a closure E5, the latter seated slightly inwardlyrcf the endof the tubular element, as shcwnby 'F'is- The l ure plate 1.5, in a welded construction, is preferably thus recessed slightly, and the plate welded as along line 1,6,13118 removable plugor similar'closure 14 being ;set into .a tapped opening N. This expedient for cleaning may be employed throughout each sectionto the extentdesired, for examp e, atea ha nd o the severa Ql-Oss tubes 41.

in the e t cal l ss Z. and to ompl tet cl a utfacil e :ior he stack ip 1 s a shor fitting Similarly ,equipped is located in the end regions and centrally of tbeuppe most c o tu H. the lat er fittings being indicated at .2 (Fig.4.).

\S cured, -,for exampl by sl ine, -.-or as ca t exte s ns of the v rtical l g oi e ch section, r a pair of flanges at each side of each section, th se e ng ind cated at 12 and e p id w th a pai of apertures 2 a se b y. the severalflanses 21.0mm late all -s ds ons, are traversed by tie boltfsg23 suitably headed and provided with conventional nuts, the .tie bolts being. alternately connected through .the registerins upper openings and the registering lower openings of the row of flanges, as suggested by Fig.1. This expedient enables the sectionsto-be assembled into permanentadjacence throughout the boiler and facilitates the addition of sections for enlargement of capacity should this be re guired.

,It-wilLbe noted that, forexampleby removal of the ,plugs M .of the fittings 2B, and by disconnection of the section in its lower region, as will be d scri ed, the e t ca e em nts of each se may b thorou hly br sh c eane f om topic bot.- tomimlmfiog 'thestackcd s ac dnip les l .It sho ld her e noted th tthc te m fnip les s used in .a comprcbensire sense t tubula connections whetb r on s ng-of lengths of initially tu ular stools, or consisting of short ored po tions conne tin the cr s tubes of a cast n It should erheuaderstmdztbat tbeclqsnre 'ndi atc short plates I5 may be employed as indicated or desired sures such as plugs it, for example, the lower extremities of the vertical legs i?! may be provided with plain imperforate closures (not shown).

Referring now to the assembly of the boiler as a whole, and assuming only for example and without restriction that it is formed up of sections of the-formsubstantially as illustrated, the selected plurality, according to desired boiler capacity, of the two types of sections are set up with their yertical legs l2 supported directly upon a pair of longitudinal beams which may rest directly on a concrete floor or formed sub-base (not shown).

Fabrication of the individual sections may, if

welded, take place on the job, or at the situs of initial production, as desired. The sections are, it will .benoted, of an extremely low cost construction since, if welded, standard types of boiler tubing stock or other suitable heavy wall seamless material may be employed, or if cast, coring is simple and easy and involves no difficult foun-v dry practice.

The adjacent sections are assembled, beginning at either end of the boiler and proceeding toward the other, and the sections physically assembled as through the tie bolts 23 above described, identical flanges 2] being provided on the end closures of the assembly, hereinafter described. It will be noted that, assuming the vertical legs [2 to be of uniform diameter tubing in the several sections, and with the provisions for spacing between the ladder portions of adjacent sections, the vertical legs may nevertheless be assembled tightly together through the several tie bolts 23, and thus each side wall formed by the series of legs l2 serves as a lateral closure or confining agency for the firebox 'FB of the boiler, and immediately above the fire box region, the series of staggered lowermost cross tubes i I lies across the top of the firebox region, thus the U-shaped bases of the sections serve with grate G to confine and constitute the fire box and combustion chamber.

Although the boiler is equally adapted for any t pe of fuel, whether coal, coke, oil, gas or the like, in case a solid fuel be employed, a fire door FD is located just above the region of the grate G, just below which is a cleanout or clinker door COD, and in the base region of the front of the boiler is an ash door AD. These doors and the openings closed thereby are conveniently formed in a box-like rectangular closure generally indicated at 26, andincluding a substantially planar front wall 2l and-rear wall 30, together with a top closure 3! andbottom closure 32 supplemented by vertical end closures (not shown).

Of similar construction is a rear end box generally indicated at 33 and including an outer wall 35, an inner wall 35, the construction being otherwise similar to the hollow front closure except for the omission of the doors and door openings described therein. It is contemplated that the front and rear closure portions 26 and 30 may be utilized to augment-the heat absorption area of the tubular sections, and thus may constitute a, part of the fluid containing space of the assembly. The side walls of the assemblies 26 and 33 are preferably bridged by stay members such as bolts 35 in keeping with usual practice in welded boiler construction, and so as fully to comply with AS. M. requirements.

It willhaveappearedfrom Fig. 1 and the earlier descriptiomthat the vertically staggered arrangement oicrosstubesinadjacent sections, serves to provide alsoincwhat tortuousorzig-zag :courseof flue gas travel, between the adjacent sections. "So

as to promote the same eifectbetween the first and last section of the series, and the end boxes 26 and 33, each of the latter is'provided with a suitably vertically spaced series of narrow plates 3'1. the effect of which is illustrated by the arrows at the left hand side of the sectioned Portion of Fig. 1. As an aid in fixing the position of the end sections relative to the boxes 26 and 33, suitable spacers such as 38, are located as suggested by Fig.3.

Suitable top and side closures are provided for the boiler, omitted in most of the drawings for clearness, but the general nature of which is shown by a fragmentary portion of one of the side closure elements in Fig. 3. This consists in the example shown, of a sheet metal member 40 backed with. a suitable refractory or asbestos lining 4|, the sheet elements being preferably removable, and bolted in place or provided with drum D positioned for example centrally and longitudinally of the top of the assembly and retained by suitable saddle elements 42 at front and rear of the assembly and overlying the end boxes and 33. A steam takeoff pipe 43 serves to direct the steam from the drum D, to the system,

apparatus, engine or other consuming equipment. The forward end of the drum D is preferably provided with a hand hole (not shown) for access to the drum, this port being normally closed by a cover 44 and clamp d5 both of which may be of conventional structure.

It is contemplated that a high water level be normally maintained as indicated by WL (Figs. 1 and 2) and in this case the end of the drum D is conveniently provided with a gauge glass WG and trycocks TC.

Connections between the drum and the several sections may be effected in any suitable manner but, as preferred, there are provided takeoff headers and supply headers at each side of the assembly, th'ese including a takeoff header 36 (Fig. 1), and a supply header 41, a similar pair of takeoff and supply headers being utilized at the opposite side of the boiler. connect each such header at one side of the assembly, to alternate sections as best shown by Fig. 1, and on the opposite side the correspond ing headers being connected to intervening sections l0. Connections between the boiler sections and the headers may be made in larger sizes of boilers as shown by Figs. 2 and 4, namely through flange joints of bolted type, which enables the removal of any section without necessarily disturbillg any others of the assembly and which, for reasons obvious to those skilled in the art, will facilitate erection of the boilers through interconnection of the several sections to the headers. In Fig. 4 left hand connections are shown, and

It is a preference to although not detailed, it will appear as advantageous to employ a threaded nipple at each joint, between the header and the flange, the companion flange being welded to or cast on the adjacent element of the section, final takeup being elfected through the bolts of the flange joints FJ. The companion takeoff headers are preferably bridged atthe :rear of the boiler, through the box structure 33, or if desired, by aseparate tube, this bridging connection being indicated by location in Fig. 1, at 50, a similar bridging connection bein sh'ownat 5! between the takeoii headers 46 at opposite sides ofthe assembly. Also at each side and at the rear of the assembly either alongside or through the water box 33, are vertical connections shown in the form of tubes or piping 52, these latter extending through Us or the like, theme through cross tubes 53 into the drum D. Thus it will appear that constant communication is provided both for supply and return purposes, between each of the several sections, the headers and the steam drum.

It is of course now obvious that should it be desired, any of the cross tubes ll of the several sections or any of the headers 46 or M, may be given a slight slope upwardly or downwardly in the direction of flow, to the end of promoting circulation thereth'rough. Such slope is usually not necessary, at least in any marked degree, and hence in the interst of simplicity of illustration, all such tubular parts have been shown as horizontal.

It will have appeared that the structure and assembly as described, will lend themselvesto an extremely low cost construction not only as to original building and fabrication expense, but with notable economies in erection and transpor tation, at the same time resulting in a boiler capable of withstanding high pressures and heavy duty service, all in keeping with the several objectives above expressly stated, and others implied from the description.

Although the disclosure is detailed in nature, for complete instruction, this detail of description should be understood as informative rather than restrictive in nature, numerous variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I'claim as my invention:

1. In'a sectional boiler, a plurality of sections assembled in lateral adjacence, each section being formed of interconnected, substantially vertical and substantially horizontal tubular portions,,

such portions includinga pair of vertical legs, one at each end of the section, a plurality of vertically spaced cross tubes above the fire box region of the boiler, with short tubing elements interconnecting successive cross tubes of the section, and with the vertical legs of theseveral sections collectively constituting lateral fire box closures, a steam drum in an upper region of the assembly, a takeoff header connected to the'steam drum, and extended along and connected laterally to a plurality of the sections in an upper region of the assembly'of sections, a return header similarly connected to the steam drum, connected laterally to a plurality of the sections with the returnheader connected into lower regions of the several sections.

2. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited by claim 1, but further charact terized in that the take-off headers are connected, one along the top portion of each of theopposite ends of the several assembled sections, one such header being connected to alternate sections of the assembly, and the companion takeoff header being connected to intervening sections of the assembly.

3. In a sectional boiler assembly, a plurality of tubular sections assembled substantially in lateral adjacence, each such section formed of lengths of tubing welded into assembly, each suba plan tr ns erse o the bo ler as: terri ly, e ch ec o i c udi g inver ed U shaped b se port mand al dde arr ngement of successive vertica c oss tubes abo e t e ba po t on, th the s v a tube o the. sect on inter onn ct the a e o onsof tbesevera ect ons co ct s i a ly, to con t tu e la eral closure portions of the f re box region, a boxlike structure at the front end of the boiler con sisting of spaced face plates, with top and end plate closures welded into assembly, a similar water box structure at the rear-end of; the boiler, a steam drum above the assembly of sections, takeoff headers interconnecting the trout and rear box structures of the boiler andreturnheadr ers interconnecting the said box structures :and sections, and the headers communicating with the steam drum.

4. In a boiler assembly of sectional typeha series of laterally adjacent sections each formed-oi tubing lengths, in mutual communication, 8,011 such section including a pair of vertical water legs, the said legs of the several sections collectively serving laterally to confine gthfi fire box region of the boiler, a cross tube in each section just above the fire box region and a plurality of similar cross tubes spaced in succession thereabove, with nipples interconnecting the several cross tubes, a series of flanges arranged in substantially horizontal rows and projecting laterally of the tubular elements of each section, tie bolts coacting with the flanges, to maintain the sections in assembly, a horizontal takeofi header common to the several sections and extending substantially horizontally along the top lateral region of the assembly of sections, there being one such header at each side of the assembly, a similar pair of return headerseach substantially horizontally disposed along the lowermost per- ,tions and laterally of the assembly of sections, connections between each section and the. adja cent headers, a steam drum above the assembly of sections, tubing interconnecting each of the said headers and the steam drum, the several said sections being so formed and assembled as to provide for-cleaning access exteriorly of the tubular elements of each section above-the fire box region,

and removable closures at the ends of reach of the cross tubes of the several sections-as Well as above the vertical legs of each section, whereby to permitbrush cleaning access interiorly of the'several vertical and horizontal tubing elements of each section.

5. In a boiler assembly of sectional type,.a series of laterally adjacent sections each formed ofsteel tubing lengths, welded into assembly and in mutual communication, each such section including a pair of vertical water logs, the said legsof the several sections collectively serving laterally to confine the firebox regionof the boiler, across tube in each section just above the fire box region and a plurality of similar cross tubes spaced in succession thereabove, with nipples interconnectins the-severa c oss tubes, th sect on be ng assemb ed i s man er th t ndi g gross tubes of adjacent sections are relatively vertical y stag e ed, s as. to p ov a g p h of flow of combustion gases between the cross tubes of adjacent sections, a series of flanges arranged in substantially horizontal rows and projecting laterally of the tubular elements of each section, tie bolts coacting with the flanges,

to maintain the sections in assembly, and with the vertical legs of the sections in substantially contiguous relation in adjacent sections, a horizontal takeofi header common to the several secseveral said sections being so formed and assembled as to provide for cleaning access exteriorly of the tubular elements of each section above the fire box region, and removable closures at the ends of each of the cross tubes of the several sections as well as above the vertical legs of each section, whereby to permit brush cleaning access interiorly of the several vertical and horizontal tubing elements of each-section.

:6. In a sectional boiler of the kind described, a plurality of tubular sections assembled in lateral adjacence, each of said sections including a pair of spaced apart upright tubular legs, a plurality of vertically spaced apart cross tubes communicating between said upright legs, and short tubular elements of a length to fit between adjacent cross tubes and opening at its ends into the latter, said upright legs of the several sections together constituting a lateral fire box closure for the boiler, a steam drum adjacent the upper region of the assembly, a takeofi header interconnecting said drum with the upper region of some of said assembled sections, a second takeofi header interconnecting said drum with the upper regions of the other sections, and return headers interconnecting said drum with the lower region of the sections.

ANDREW J. GALLAHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

